Parku Kombëtar i Butrintit

Parku Kombëtar i Butrintit lies in southern Albania, across more than 9,000 hectares of hills, wetlands, forests, islands, and open plains. Lake Butrint and the Vivari Channel surround the peninsula, linking freshwater landscapes with the Ionian Sea. Mediterranean conditions bring mild winters and hot, dry summers to this varied setting.

Ancient Butrint preserves remains from the Iron Age through the Middle Ages, including city walls, a basilica, a baptistery, two castles, and a Roman theatre. The theatre stands below the Acropolis and faces the channel. More than 1,200 plant and animal species inhabit the surrounding ecosystems, from holly oak and bay laurel to otters, dolphins, sea turtles, and wetland birds. Ramsar recognition reflects the importance of these waters, while UNESCO World Heritage status protects the cultural landscape.

The Lion Gate forms one of six entrances to the ancient city, with a carving of a lion attacking a bull. At the Vivari Channel’s mouth, Ali Pasha Tepelena’s small island castle adds another striking landmark among the reeds and water.